The bank workers at this HQ in Hanover, Germany, must wonder whether their office design adds up to something spectacular, or just equals a strange stack of ‘boxes’.

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Very unique stacked design

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It does at first glance resemble the sort of tower a toddler would build with a box of bricks – angular, haphazard and almost prone to toppling. Of course this very unique stacked design was entirely deliberate by Stuggart architects Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner, who created their office blocks for Nord/LB Bank to ensure plenty of natural light for the company’s 1,500 workers.

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Eco-friendly futuristic design

The futuristic design may be quite simplistic but it’s eco-friendly, structured form ensures the light which flows through the cubicle offices both heats and cools the building, whilst the 18,800 panes of glass flow from dark to light to ensure enough filters through.

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Towering over 80m high, one of the building’s most incredible features isn’t immediately obvious. The roof of the staff restaurant is actually shaped like a giant butterfly, whose huge 20m wings change colour throughout the day thanks to a coating of reactive material.

Peek inside the boxes and you’ll find more glorious technicolour displays of art in the inner courtyard, with giant multicoloured steel tulips by American artist Jeff Koons, and three tranquil lakes, totalling 3,300sqm, which are the building’s source for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. Explore further and there’s a whole parade of restaurants, shops, and an art gallery which doubles as space for exhibitions and events.

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Building design that’s right on the money

Regardless of the divided opinion of this building, it’s helped Hanover get into the black with more tourists than ever visiting the area to see this boxy beauty for themselves. It even won the Lower Saxony Award for Architecture. So maybe it’s right on the money after all.